Preseason – Game 1

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August 10, 2021

By Noonefromtampa

Preseason Game 1

Thursday night, the Washington Football Team takes on the New England Patriots in New England. There are only three games in the preseason for Washington, so if tradition follows, expect to see starting players to play in just a few series in the first two games. The game will be the featured live game on the NFL Network, so everyone who has it on their TV service doesn’t have to wait for a 3 am replay.

My guess is that starters will play only in the first quarter, probably around 20 snaps or so. The main goal of preseason is for the starters to get some live action so they can work on their timing and coordination of playing together at game speed. That is balanced against not wanting to lose players to significant injuries.

Roster Makeup

For the next few weeks, this column will focus on the roster and who I project to make the final 53-man roster. Nominally the 53-man roster breakdown will include 25 offensive players, 25 defensive players and 3 special teams players. However, with COVID-19 still around and the NFL taking a strong stance against postponing any game, this may impact final roster decision to some degree.

Part of the roster creation process that coaching and front office staffs will have to go through is to decide on the number of players to keep at each position. An extra player at one position, means one spot eliminated at another position. I think a probable breakdown of how the roster spots will be allocated will look something like this:

QB: 3                   RB: 4

WR: 6                  TE: 3

OL: 9 (2 centers, 3 guards, 4 tackles)

DL: 8 (4 defensive ends, 4 defensive tackles)

LB: 7

CB: 5                   S: 5

Specialists: 3 (1 kicker, 1 punter, 1 long snapper)

This is where a player’s versatility comes in. Last year, James Smith-Williams showed his versatility by being able to play both inside and outside on the defensive line. For role players, this is a critical ability needed to make the 53-man roster. Offensive lineman who can play both interior line spots or someone who can play tackle and guard will increase roster flexibility. Defensively, they are looking for players who have both position and scheme flexibility. Expect Jack Del Rio to dial up some more complex looks this season and as most players are more comfortable in their second year in his defense.

Practice Squad & 2021 COVID Rules

Right now, I think about 40 players are a “lock” for the 53-man roster, leaving 13 positions to be won over the next few weeks. Also at stake are 16 practice squad positions. The NFL is carrying over the 2020 COVID rules for the 2021 season, which are:

  • Expanded practice squads of 16 players, including up to six who have more than two accrued seasons
  • The ability to protect up to four practice squad players per week from being signed by other teams
  • Elevation of up to two practice squad players to the active roster, without removing any current players, before 4 p.m. ET the day before a game
  • Elevation of an additional practice squad player within 90 minutes before kickoff in the event of a late COVID-19 positive test result
  • Players placed on injured reserve can return after three weeks, rather than six as in normal seasons
  • Removal of the limit for how many players can be activated from injured reserve

In regular years, vested players would not be eligible for the practice squad. That means players like Cole Luke, Torry McTyer or DeAndre Carter, who the coaches have spoken positively about, could be practice squad candidates.

Roster Breakdown

Special Teams (3)

This is the easiest position group since Dustin Hopkins and Tress Way have no competition. The long snapper job is Camaron Cheeseman’s to lose, although he did not have a stellar Friday night practice.

Quarterbacks (3)

Roster Locks: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen

Practice Squad: Steven Montez

Some fans have wondered if Allen will go to injured reserve to start the season. In order for that to happen, he would have to go on the final roster first and then be moved to injured reserve. It’s possible Fitzpatrick and Heinicke are the two active quarterbacks on the roster for week 1, with Logan Thomas as the emergency QB.

Running Back (4)

Roster Locks: Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic

Position Battle: Peyton Barber, Lamar Miller, Jonathan Williams

Practice Squad: Jaret Patterson

Patterson will be the annual training camp favorite but will need to work on being a professional running back, particularly blitz pickups, before making the roster. There are three veterans fighting for two spots. Also, running back might be a position where the executives end up liking another team’s castoff, so one of the team’s future backup running backs might be on someone else’s roster right now.

Wide Receiver (6)

Roster Locks: Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Dyami Brown, Adam Humphries

Position Battle: Antonio Gandy-Golden, Cam Sims, DeAndre Carter, Isaiah Wright, Kelvin Harmon, Steven Sims Jr.

Practice Squad: Dax Milne

Released: Tony Brown

This position group has gone from being a liability to being a strength in one year. I know some people don’t see Humphries as a lock, but he and Logan Thomas will be Fitzpatrick’s security blanket players. You have seven players fighting for probably two positions although the team could elect to keep a seventh wide receiver.  The kick and punt return role will also have an impact on the selections in this group with Steven Sims, Wright and Carter all possible returner candidates.

Tight End (3)

Roster Locks: Logan Thomas, John Bates

Position Battle: Ricky Seals-Jones, Temarrick Hemingway

Practice Squad: Sammis Reyes

Waived: Nick Guggemos

This position group may have 4 instead of 3 if coaches feel that Reyes has done enough to warrant a roster spot, especially if they think he would not clear waivers to go to the practice squad. If Seals-Jones can stay healthy I think he gets the nod over Hemingway.

Offensive Line (9)

Roster Locks: Brandon Scherff, Charles Leno Jr., Chase Roullier, Cornelius Lucas, Ereck Flowers, Sam Cosmi, Wes Schweitzer

Position Battle: Keith Ismael, Tyler Larsen, Wes Martin, Saahdiq Charles, David Sharpe

Practice Squad: Beau Benzschawel

Released: David Steinmetz, Rick Leonard

This position group may end up with less than nine players on the final roster. There are a number of players in this group who can play more than one position on the offensive line like Lucas, Flowers, Ismael, and Charles. This could leave the coaching staff to go with eight players in order to free a roster spot up for wide receiver and tight end groups. Also, expect practice squad players to come from the losers in the position battle who don’t get signed by another team.

Defensive Line (8)

Roster Locks: Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Matt Ioannidis

Position Battle: Casey Toohill, Tim Settle, James Smith-Williams, Devaroe Lawrence, Will Bradley-King

Practice Squad: David Bada

Released: Bunmi Rotimi, Daniel Wise, Gabe Wright, Justus Reed

This is a very deep and talented group. Not having Tim Settle as a roster lock will be controversial for some fans, but there are some players in the position battle group who can play inside and outside on the line. I would not be surprised if someone like Settle or even Ioannidis get traded before the season starts to a team who need defensive line help.

Linebackers (7)

Roster Locks: Jamin Davis, Cole Holcomb, Jon Bostic, Khaleke Hudson

Position Battle: David Mayo, Jordan Kunaszyk, Jared Norris, Joe Walker

Practice Squad: Shaka Toney

Released: Justin Phillips

The question here is which of the veterans can nail down a backup spot and whether Toney displace one of them by showing good special teams skills and the ability to rushing the passer during the preseason games.

Secondary (10)

Roster Locks: Kendall Fuller, William Jackson III, Kamren Curl, Landon Collins, Benjamin St-Juste, Bobby McCain, Deshazor Everett

Position Battle: Danny Johnson, Darrick Forrest, Darryl Roberts, Jeremy Reaves, Jimmy Moreland, Torry McTyer

Practice Squad: Cole Luke

Released: Chris Miller, Greg Stroman, Jordan Brown, Linden Stephens, Troy Apke

The final roster number and players also revolve around versatility and flexibility in this group. The team may elect to only keep nine defensive backs if some of the players show enough flexibility in the scheme being played. Some players who have been with the team for a while will likely be released this year as the coaches get more guys who fit the schemes they want to run. Lastly, expect some of the practice squad spots to be filled by players released from other teams.

Cut Down Dates

Here are the dates where the roster reductions need to be made by 4pm:

  • August 17th down to 85 players
  • August 24th down to 80 players
  • August 31st down to 53 players

Remaining Games

Game 2:  August 20th versus Cincinnati Bengals (also live on NFL Network)

Game 3: August 28th at Baltimore Ravens (out of market fans will have to look for the NFLN replay)

Check back next week to see whose stock rose and whose stock fell after game 1.